“You might win some, you might lose some. But you go in, you challenge yourself, you become a better man, a better individual, a better fighter.”—Conor McGregor
We’ve all heard it before—“You win some. You lose some.” This is only true if you step out of your comfort zone and compete. The risk of losing comes only when there is a challenge. I can beat my daughter at every game of HORSE. There is, however, no challenge there. I stink at basketball, but I am 6’5” and she is 10 years old and 4-foot-something. I won’t ever get good at playing my 10-year-old daughter. I need to be challenged. For her, on the other hand, HORSE with her unskilled father is still a challenge and is making her better.
We only get better by risking failure—and failing. Sure, I risk losing to my daughter, but I am really not getting better because the risk of failure is minimal. Failing means we are challenging our limits. It means we are moving outside of our comfort zone.
Earlier this lacrosse season, I asked my son to practice with is long pole. He was playing midfield, and I thought he could have potential as an LSM (“long stick middie”). He was hesitant. He said it wasn’t “comfortable”. My response was “good”. One never gets good at something being comfortable. He persevered. A week later, he took up the pole in a scrimmage game, and he hasn’t turned back. He is growing daily in his new defensive position—all because he dared to be “uncomfortable”.
I have often cited the wrestling philosophy that in wrestling there are no losers, “only winners and learners”. Such is life. If we challenge ourselves, we get better. We become “a better man (or woman), a better individual, a better fighter.” True. We are not UFC fighters like Conor McGregor, but we are fighters at something. We are striving to be (extra)ordinary at something. So, pick your fight, and get better. Challenge yourself daily, and get better. Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!